Trade in the Pre-Independent scenario- Sikkim and Darjeeling

The photograph in the inset is once again a long preserved historical document (courtesy the Das Studio Darjeeling) which is shared with me by Mr. Dweep Subba, a student of B.A. III semester of Namchi Government College. This is a photograph of a Sikkimese Carpet Seller probably of 1910's taken at Darjeeling. The person in the photograph is a typical Bhutia or Tibetan as his dress suggests. These traders used to bring carpets from Darjeeling to Sikkim and then they used to send it to Tibet. The British provincial Estate of Darjeeling had then been the centre of trade and commerce of the places like Kalimpong, Kurseong, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Tradesmen from Nepal, Bhutan and many other neighbouring places used to come to Darjeeling to attend the Sunday HAAT (Market) to have their trade dealings. This is to be cited here that they used the Silk Route which connected Kalimpong with Tibet via Sikkim for their trading purpose. The background of the photograph shows one portion of Darjeeling which seems to be comparatively developed in the then scenario. The posters and hoardings written in English suggest that Darjeeling was a pioneering place to amalgamate with the English language. The photograph itself is a testimony to the fact that technological instruments like camera, electricity, and, of course, the system of photo developing marked the advancement of Darjeeling in comparision to other adjacent places.

5 comments:

hunter said...

mr Shital and u have tough competition on hunting the history of sikkim. better join hands and come with some bright ideas abt it. i appreciate...

Dr. Rajen Upadhyay said...

Thank you Sir...Its not about competition its about passion....Shital Sir is doing a great job for the reconstruction of Sikkimese history...I am simply following his steps...In fact everyone should appriciate his efforts...

Uttam Kumar Upadhyaya said...

hi rajen! to compete and to achieve findings are two different things. teach those who really look it to be a case of 100 mtr marathan. in fact, Shital Pradhan and Rajen, both are doing great jobs to congregate the facts of past sikkim. its really been worth commenting that with the pioneering efforts of both of you, students and scholars will be benefitted enormously. good, keep it going on.

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